Post-office furniture.



` R. T. ouRN.

POST OFFICE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION`FILED SEPT. Q, 1912.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

R. T. BOURN.

A POST OFFICE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. I9I2.

Pafmed Aug. 31, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIUITI I Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

4 SHEETS-,SHEET 3.

R. T. BOURN.

POST OFFICE FURNITURE.

APPucArloN FILED SEPT. 9. |912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

.....TN/ EUR MGH MNR NNI ...ida

fil

www

ROBERT T. BOUBN, OF TEMPLETON, MASSAHUSETTS.

- ros'r-orricn runmrumi Application led September 9, 1912. Serial No. 719,407.

To 1N w11 om it may concern Be it known that I, Roiinii'r T. BOURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Templeton. county of lloicestei', and State of Massachusetts. have invented an Improvement in Post-Office Furniture, 'of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification. like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to post-office furniture of that type which is commonly used by letter carriers in sorting and routing their mail. This type of )ostoftice furniture coniprises a table above which is situated a routing case comprising shelves having partitions to divide theni into compartments. y

Sonie of the objects of my invention are to provide a novel forni of table top which can be made extensible to provide additional room in sorting paper or package mail, and also to provide an arrangement of coinpartments on the table top in which the paper inail can be sorted and faced, thus avoiding the necessity of placing the paper mail after it is sorted on the hig'h shelves of the case, as is necessary to do with some types of assorting cases; and further to provide a novel construction of assoiting case' and shelves and partitions therefor by which letters will be more accurately maintained in their vertical. position, and can be more readily Ainserted into the various coinpartments: to provide a novel construction of assorting case which facilitates the bundlingup of the mail after it has" been sorted; tov

provide a novel form of base or standard for post-office furniture of this nature, all as will he more Afully hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.`

Referring now to the drawings wherein 1 have shown some embodiments of my invention Figure 1 is a vertical section on substantially the line Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a front view of an assorting case embodying niv invention; Fig. 3 is a section on tlielineg/e-y, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is anenlarged section on the line a-a, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on the line b-b., Fig. 4: Fig. 6 is a detail of the pivotal support for'theshelf back; Fig.

.7 is a sectional view through the cap piece of the standard; Fig. S is a section on the line c-c, Fig. 1; Fig. 9is an enlarged Se@q Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dug. 131, 191.5.'

tion. on the line d-d, Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a section on the line e-e, Fig. 9; Fig. llis an enlarged transverse section through one of the shelves; Fig. 12 is a front view of a portion of one of the shelves; Fig. 13 .is an enlarged section on the line f-f, Fig. 8;

Fig. 14 is a detail of the support for ther shelves; Fig. 15 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing a different form of the invention; Fig. 16 is a front view ofthe Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a section o n the line g-g, Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a double'casc involving one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 19 is a perspective View of a portion of a shelf back showing a manner of securing the partitions thereto; Fig. 20 shows a different manner of securing the partitions to the shelf back; Fig. 21 is a plan view showing the movable compressor of the paper facing slide illustrated in Fig.

18; Fig. 22 is a section on the line zf-i,

Fig. 18; Fig. 23 is a section on the line 2 2,

Fig. 18; Fig. 24 is a perspective detail view showing a slightly different form of shelf support.

My device comprises apframe 1 adapted to support a plurality ofy shelves 2, each of which is provided with partitions to divide' packed in a small space for storage or ship-- ment. The improved'standard herein shown comprises a base 6, a post or pedestal 7 sustained thereby, and a plurality of arms 8 connected to the upper end ofthe post 7 and secured to the underside of the base board- 3.' The base 6 -is shown as a casting provided with a central screw-threaded socket 9 and the post 7 is shown as a tubular member screw-threaded at its lower end into the opening 9. vThe base 6 is preferably istv formed with the depending interior flange 10 which forms a continuation of the hub -orlupwardly-extending flange 11, the flanges 10 and 11 providing a comparatively long opening 9 to receive the lower endof the post 7 I will preferably screw-,thread the lower portion only ofsaid opening 9 and will provide -a set-screw 12 in-the flange 11 which is adapted to engage the post 7 and lock it in adjusted position. 'The post 7 can beadjusted vertically in the case 6 thereby to adjust the height of the table top 5 by merely loosening the 'set-screw 12 and then screwing said post up or.l down as desired.

The top of the post 7 sustains a cap piece 13 to which the arms 8 are secured. These arms may either be detachably secured to said cap piece or may be made integral therewith. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have shown a construction wherein the arms are detachably secured to the cap piece, thereby making a knockdown construction. In Figs. 15 to 17 I have shown avconstruction wherein the arms are integral with the cap piece. Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it will be seen that the cap piece is provided'with a flange 14 having a plurality of apertures 15 formed therein, and that the arms 8 are offset slightly at -their lower ends, as at 16, soA that these `oiiset ends may be'inserted through the slots 15 and thus held in place, as clearly seen in vFigs. 1 and 2. The upper ends of the arms 8 are secured to" the base piece 3 by any suitable means, such as screws or bolts. The cap 13 is provided with a recess 17 to receive the upper end of the post 7 and with a shoul- `der herein .formed by inwardly-extending ingers18'which rests on the upper end of the post. -19 is a set screw for locking the cap piece to the post. When the table 1s to be adjusted vertically the set-screw 19 has to be loosened as well as the set-screw12, so as to permit the post 7 to turn in the cap 13, as well as in the base 6. .rWhen the proper adjustment has been secured both set-screws 12 and 19 are set tight and the standard will then become a rigid structure. When an assorting case of this nature is loaded with mail the center of the weight comes at a point back of the cen-terof the table top 5,l and where the device is supported on a single post, as herein shown, it is desirable to have this post located as nearly as possible under the center of the weight, so that the structure will be evenly balanced.,` The construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 andi-3 permits this to be done, for the apertures 15 are sufiiciently large so that the arms 8 can be swung laterally somewhat, and in setting up the piece of furniture, I propose to spread the rear arms 8 to a greater degree than the front arms, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. In order to facilitate the manufacture, I propose to make all the arms 8`from the same pattern and the upper ends of the rear arms will come at the rear corners of the base 3, while the upper iends ofthe front' arms will come at a point inside of these corners. In Fig. 3 the arrangement of arms -is shown and also the table top in outline,

and by the construction illustrated it is possible to set the post 7 somewhat in the rear of theV center of the base 3 and in approximately a position corresponding to the center of the weight.

In Figs. 15 to 17 I have shown an embodiment of the invention wherein the arms 8 are made integral with the cap piece 13. In this construction the socket 17 formed in the cap piece is closed at its upper end as shown at 170,-so that the weight of the structure is taken by this part 170. In this embodiment the arms 8 will preferably be so disposed that the post 7 will stand somewhat to the rear of the center of the base-board 3, thereby bringing said post substantially under the center of gravity. The table top 5 is movably mounted on the base-board 3 so that said top may be drawn outwardly into the dotted line position Fig. 1, or may be placed in its retracted position, as shown in full lines Fig. 1. In sorting the letter mail it will be more convenient to have thetable top retracted as therewill be plenty of room on the front portion thereof to receive all letter mail, and when it is in its backward or retracted position the carrier can reach the shelves 2 with greater facility. In sorting the paper and package mail, however, which is considerably bulky, it is desirable to have the full area of the table top 5 available for use, and by drawing the table top outwardly into the dotted line position this can be accomplished. In order to provide for an easy-movement ofthe table top when loaded with mail, I propose to employ a pair of rolls 20 in the front of the base 3 and a pair of rolls 21 in the rear of the top 5 on the underside so that said top can roll back and forth on the rolls 20 and 21. 22 is a spring-pressed locking bolt. mounted in an opening in the back-board 23 of the top. This locking bolt is adapted to engage a recess 24 in the base-board 3 to lock the table top in its forward position.- The bolt is provided with a laterally-extending finger 25 by means of which it may be withdrawn and it is acted on by a spring 26 which tends tol force it downwardly into locking engagement with the ba'se 3. The table top 5 is not only provided with the back-board 23 but is provided with the side boards 27. It is also provided with means for dividing the sides thereof into compartments to receive the paper mail as it is sorted, thus avoiding the necessity of placing the package and heavy mail on the high shelves in the frame 1 during the sorting process. These compartments in the table top 5 are provided for by removable partitions 30 which are adapted to beplaced at right angles to the sides 27, as seen bestin Fig. 8. These partitions are herein shown as provided with a wire rim portion 28 which encircles the sides and top of the body 29 of the partition and lao niagara v am;

which extends down below the lower edge thereof to form feeti31 and 32. 'Ihe table top 5 is provided with apertures 33 and 3 4 into which these feet 31, 32 can be set. Thls provides for placing the partitions at any desired points. rllhe partitions extend transversely of the table or'at right angles tothe sides 27, as seen in I4`ig. 4. I will preferably set metal strips 35 into the table top-5 and form the holes-33, 34 in said strips, thls construction providing a metal rim for the holes which will revent any undue wear occurring. The fpoot 32 of each partltion is preferably slightly longer than the foot `31. so that in putting the partition in place'the foot 32 may first be entered into the desired hole 34 and then the partition may be swung laterally to bring the foot 31 into alinement with the proper hole 33. This facilitates very much the operation of placing the partitions. At the front side of the table top 5 I provide the Swingin arms 36 which are hinged to the sides 2 These swinging arms 36 may be folded back against the sides 27 when the table t'op is being used for sorting letter mail and may be thrown into their operative position shown in Fig. 4 when the partitions 30 are being used. The outer ends' of the strips 35 are bent upwardly to form stops 38 against which the swinging arms 36 have engagement when they are in their operative position. When the table top is being used for sorting paper and package mail, straps or tapes 39 may be laid on the table top 5 beneath the partitions 30, said straps being put in place before the partitions are inserted, so that when the mail is placed in the compartments between the partitions 30 it will be placed on the straps 39. When the mail has been completely sorted the partitions 30 may be removed and V. the two ends of each strap brought together,

thus bundling the mail up. I propose to employ hooks 40 in the upper edge of the back side 23 of the top 5 over which hooks engages the shelf 2 and which prevents a,

single letter when inserted into an empty compartment from sliding laterally underneath the partition. Each partition is also preferably formed on its upper side with the inclined portion 45 that terminates in a downwardly-directed portion 46, the por! tion 46 preferably being situated in the rear portion of the partition. This portion `45,v

46 of each partition serves to hold the letters Y clined lportion 45 serves as a guide' for any letter as it is inserted into the compartment and prevents the upper rear corner of the letter 'from striking the upright portion 46 while the letter is being inserted. The preferred way of securing the partitions 42 to the'shelf backing 43 is shown in Figs. 19 and 20.

In the construction shown in Fig. 19 the back 43 is formed on its front face with a longitudinal groove 99 and with a plurality of 4vertical grooves 98 that intersect the groove 99. The grooves 98 are placed at the points where partitions are desired. The two arms 97 and 96 of each partition arebent at their inner ends to present the vertically disposed portions 95 and thev laterally disposed portions 94, the portions 94 of each partition extending in opposite directions and being in alinement with each other. In securing the partition to the backing/43 the vertically disposed portions 95 of any partition are inserted into one of the grooves 98 and the laterally disposed -portions 94 are inserted into the groove 99. After all of the partitions have been thus assembled a plate 93 is secured Ato the front face of the backing 43 so as to overlie the groove 99 and thus hold the partitions irmly in place. The vertical portions 95 hold the partition from turning and maintain it in a vertical plane, and the horizontal portions 94 hold the partition against vertical movement. The' plate 93 securely locks all the partitions to the back ing. Instead of forming the grooves 98 andV 99 on the front face of the backing 43 I mayv make them on the back side thereof, as shown in Fig.-20. In this case the arms 96, 97 of each partition embrace the backing 43, and the plate 93l is located on the back side of the partition. In other respects, however, the invention is the same as that shown in Fig. 19. This construction is one-which admits of rapidly assembling the partitions and the backing and which firmly holds the partitions in place during use. If a small letter happens to lie next to one of the partitions 42, such letter is apt to fall between the upper and lower-legs of the partition, and thus interfere with placing of letters into the next adjacent compartment. In order to prevent this from happening I propose tol provide each partition with a guard' finger which extends laterally from one-of the legs toward the other, preferably at a point between the front and rear edges of the artition. Such guard-finger may be provided for in various ways, but the drawings show the preferred way wherein `the lower leg 97 of each partition is bent to form the upwardly directed guard-finger S9. Such guard-linger can be located either in front of orat the rear of the downwardly directed extension 44. In the drawings 'I have shown -the guard-finger as situated immediately in front of said extension. I will preferably make each partition slightly longer than an ordinary business envelop so that even when the compartments are filled with letter mail the front edge of the partitions will be vi sible beyond the letters and. will thus clearly indicate to the letter carrier where the partitions are located. FIhe shelves 2 may be fixed to the backs 43 or may be withdrawable from' the backs. In the case'of the upper shelves,

' I prefer to make them separate from the back sol that each shelf can be withdrawn fromits back and the partitions supported thereby. Where the shelves are made removable from the backs, I propose to adopt the construction shown in Figs. 4-6. The

` shelf is shown as provided at its back edge with'a metal strip 85 constituting a letter .stop,this strip elitending slightly above the shelf. The back 43 is rabbeted at its lower front edge, as'shown at 86S to receive the letter stop so that when the shelf is in its rearward position the front face of the letter stop and the front face of the back are flush with each other. The back is sustained by two holders 47 one at each end thereof, each holder having a channel shape in cross section, as seen in Fig. 5, to receive the end of thevback and provided with a stud 48 which sets into the sides of the frame 1 and constitutes a -trunnion on which the holder can turn. Each holder 47 also has a pin 49 extending from'near the upper edge which works in a slot or recess 50 formed in the' sides of the frame 1, said slot being large enough to allow a slight rocking movement to the holder but limiting such rockingA movement. Each. holder is also provided with vthe lip 51 at its lower edge on which the back 43 rests. The purpose in pivotally sustaining the holders 47 is to permit the shelf to be removed, for it will be observed that when the shelf is drawn forwardly, the letter stop 85 will engage the extension 44 which is provided with inclined sides and will raise the partitions suficiently to allow the letter stop to be withdrawn from u-ndervsaid extensions, thiswaising movement of the partitions giving a rocking movement to the back 43. Wheny the shelves are withdrawn the partitions and back are held in their .horizontal position by the engagement of the stop'pins 49 with the walls of the recess 50.

I propose to provide means whereby a, strap or tape may be laid on each shelf 2 beneath the partitions so that when the letter mail is placed on the shelf it will be laid.-

' can be laid on the shelf while it is removed and then the loops at the ends thereof can be hooked into the hooks 54. The shelf may then be inserted into the case, in doing which the tapes 52 will be carried underneath the partitions 42. Vhen the shelf is filled with mail it maybe withdrawn from the case and then the ends of the tape 52 may be gathered together, thus bundling the mail up with great facility. In devices of this nature it is customary to place routing strips 60 on the front edges of the shelves 2 4and to hold these routing strips in place I have provided the holders which comprise strips of metal bent into hook shape, as shown at 61, and secured to the front edge of each shelf 2 at suitable intervals (see Figs. 11 and 12)'. Each holder is shown as having a tang or prong 62 at its upper edge which is driven into the shelf and the finger portion 63 of the holder is more or less resilient and is bent -to form a flaring mouth' which will permit the ready insertion of the routing strip 60 thereinto and also to present a portion which bears against the strip and frictionally holds it in place.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a drawer 64 is provided beneath the baseboard 3 and between the arms 8, this drawer being supported on suitable cleats 65. In some routing cases of this nature two drawers are required beneath the table top, and where this' is the case I propose to employ the construction shown in Figs. 15 and 16. In this construction the` frame or case 1, which includes the sides, top and bottom 65, is sustained by a base member which comprises the bottom piece 66, the two. side pieces 67 rising therefrom and the top piece 68 which extends from one side to the other and is of sulicientdepth to reach from the front of the table back to the bottom of the case of the frame 1. In this construction the two pieces 68 and 65 constitute the surface on which the top 5 is mounted. The space between the sides 67 is suflicient to receive two drawers 70. The sides 67 are preferably situated just inside of the sideboards of the case 1, so that these side-boards of the ease can be secured to the base by screws 71 inserted upwardly through the top 68 on the exterior of the sides 67. This provides a knock-down construction, as the frame 1 can be easily removed from the base member, and the latter .can be removed from the arms 8, as will be readily seen.

My invention may be embodied in a double routing case,-that is one adapted to have a carrier working on each side thereof. This routing case comprises the double frame 1, carrying two sets of shelves 2, facing in opposite directions, each shelf having a plurality of partitions 42, all as above described. This frame 1 rests on a double table designated generally at 100, the top 101 of which is divided by the central par` tition 102 to form the separate spaces for the carriers. In Fig. 18, I have shown an extensible table top section 103, on which the paper mail can be sorted andfaced and which may be used in addition to the extensible table top 5 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In some cases it is desirable to use both the extensible top 5 and the slide 103, and the construction is suchthat this can be done. In Fig. 18 I have omitted the movable top 5 so as not to confuse the drawings. This table top extension 103 is in the form of a slide which extends the full depth of the double table so that when it is drawn out to its full extent it extends beyond the front of the table top a distance sunbstantially equal to the depth of the double table. This table top extension runs. in a suitable runway 104. In order to support the extension or slide 103 when it is fully withdrawn I provide a supporting slide 105 which is adapted to slide back and forth in a runway 106 formed in the table top. This slide has a projection 107 extending from the topl thereof which operates in a groove 108 formed in the bottom of the slide 103. The groove is of such a length that when the slide 103 is drawn outwardly the rear end of the groove will strike the projection 107 before the slide is fully extended and will thereafter draw the slide outwardly with it into the position shown in Fig. 18. When the slide is pushed inwardly the opposite end of the slot willengage the projection 107 and willl thus carry the supporting slide 105 back; into place. They slide 103 supports a movable partition or follower 109, the purpose of which is to provide a space of appropriate size between it and the front wall 110 of the slide. This follower-or partition 109 has secured to its` under side a. locking plate 111 which isl provided with an extension. 112 having depending flanges 113. These ianges operate in grooves 114 formed in the top of the slide 103. 115 represents a plate or ,strip secured to the slide 103 between the grooves and having a width to partiaily overlie thel grooves. 116 are screws or headed projections secured in the bottom of the partition 109 and underlying the edges of the plate 115. These screws or projections 116 not only hold the partition 109 in place on the slide, but allow it to move back and forth. The partition 109 is locked in its adjusted position by merely swinging it slightly to cause it to assume the angular position shown in dotted lines Fig. 21, such movement of the partition carrying the end of one flange 113 and the opposite end of the other flange 113 against the walls of the grooves, thereby producing .a binding or locking action which holds the partition from movin Another frm of shelf support is shown in Fig. 24, wherein one end of the wire 121 is sustained in an eye 161, the other end of said wire being provided with the finger 122 adapted to be driven into the side of the case. The advantage of this construction is that the shelf support is not affected by the swelling and shrinking of the wood.

Another construction embodying my invention isv shown in Fig. 18, wherein the shelf supports 121 are carried by swinging Suspenders 162. Thesesuspenders are arranged in pairs, there being one pair at each side of the case. Said Suspenders are pivotally hung from their upper ends at 163, and the Suspenders of each pair are connected by the shelf supports l121. The connection between the shelf supports and the Suspenders is one which permits the suspenders to swing back and forth. The holders 47 for the backs 43 are pivoted to one of the Suspenders instead of to the side of the frame 1. The advantage of this construction is that the tier of shelves may be swung forwardly or backwardly more or less to bring them into the most convenient position for the letter carrier. The shelf supports will be maintained in horizontal table extension 103 as seen in Fig. 18. As f the letter carrier sorts his paper and package mail it is laid on the table and when he is ready to bundle yup themail the ends of the tape are detached from the hooks and tied or otherwise fastened together." The follower 109 may be used on the table top extension/ 5 if desired, and by illustrating it in connection with the slide 103 I do not wish to be understood as confining its use to the slide. The shelves 2 are shown as sustained by wireshelf supports 121. These shelf supports, one of which is shown in Fig. 14, are made from-a piece of wire of the proper length bent at its ends to present fingers 122. The sides of the frame 1 are provided with inclined apertures into which lingers 122 may be received. This makes a very inexpensive but practical support on which the shelf may be slidably sustained. A

While I have illustrated herein some embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited tothe construction of features shown.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In post-office furniture the combination with a frame, of shelves supported thereby, backs for the shelves, and partitions for dividing the shelves into compartments, each partition being formed of wire bent to present separated top and bottom legs which are secured to the back, one of said legs having a portion bent laterally toward the other leg at a point between the front and rear edges of the partition, thereby to constitute a guard linger which prevents a small letter from entering between said legs.

2. In post-office furniture the combination with a frame, of shelves sustained thereby, wire partitions for each shelf, each partition comprising horizontally disposed separated top and bottom legs, one of which has a guard finger extending laterally therefrom toward the other.

3. In post-oliice furniture the combination with a frame, of shelves sustained thereby, wire partitions foreach shelf, each partition comprising horizontally disposed separated top and bottom legs, one of which has a guard finger extending laterally therefrom toward the other intermediate of the ends of the partition.

4. In post-office furniture the combination with a plurality of shelves, of means to support said shelves, wire partitions dividing eachshelf into compartments, each partition comprising horizontally disposed top and bottom legs, the bottom leg havinga guard finger extending laterally therefrom toward the other leg.

5. In post-office furniture the combination with a plurality of shelves, of means to support the shelves, -and partitions dividing each shelf into compartments, each partition vbeing formed of wireA and presenting separated top and bottom legs, the wire of the bottom leg being bent intermediate of its ends to present a laterally disposed guard finger which is directed toward the upper le gd. In post-oflice furniture the combination with a plurality of shelves, of means to support the shelves, and partitions dividing each shelf into compartments, ea'ch partition being formed of wire and presenting separated top and bottom legs, the wire of the bottom leg being bent intermediate of its ends to present a laterally disposed guard 'finger which is directed toward the upper leg, and also being bent to present a downwardly directed extension which engages the shelf.

7. In post-office furniture the combination with a plurality of shelves, of means for supporting said shelves, and wire partitions wardly therefrom and an extension extending downwardly therefrom.

8. In post-office furniture the combination with a shelf, of a back therefor, and wire partitions secured to the back, each partition presenting upper and lower separated legs, ther upper leg being formed with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined letterguiding portion which terminates in a vertically disposed portion near the rear of the partition. j

9. In post-office furniture the combination with a frame, of shelves removably sustained thereby, backs for the shelves, and partitions sustained by the backs, each back having a trunnion at each end thereof, which is journaled in the frame, and also having a stop projection, and said frame having recesses to receive and coperate with the stop projections to limit the swinging movement of the back and partitions.

l0. In post-oiiice furniture the combination with a frame, of shelves removably sustained thereby, a shelf back for each shelf independent thereof, partitions sustained by the shelf backs, and a holder at each end of each shelf, each holder being provided with a trunnion which is journaled in the frame, and a stop projection, said frame having recesses to receive and coperate with the stop projections to limit the turning movement of the back.

11. In post-office furniture the combination with a frame, of shelves removably sustained thereby and each having a letter stop at its rear end, pivotally mounted shelf backs separated from the shelves, each shelf back being rabbeted on its front side to receive the letter stop of the corresponding `shelf when the latter is in its operative position, and partitions carried by the shelf' backs.

12. In post-office furniture, the combination with a frame, of shelves sustained.

thereby and an end rest rising from each end of each shelf, each end rest being formed of a loop of wire having its ends secured to the shelf, said wire at the central portion of the top of the end rest being bent to form an inwardly-facing strap-retaining hook.

13. In post-ofiice furniture the combination with shelves, of a'back foreach shelf having grooves therein situated at an` angle with each other and a plurality of partitions each back having a groove extending longitudinally thereof and a plurality of grooves intersecting the longitudinal groove, and partitions secured to each back, each partition having a portion to enter the longitudinal groove, and another portion to enter one of the intersecting grooves.

15. In post-office furniture the combination with shelves, of backs for the shelves, each back having a groove extending longitudinally thereof and a plurality of vertically disposed grooves intersecting the longitudinal groove, and wire partitions sustained by each back, each partition having a portion to enter both a vertical groove and the longitudinal groove, and means overlying said portions to hold them in the grooves.

16. In post-office furniture the combination with shelves, of a back for each shelf, each back having a plurality of transversely disposed @grooves formed in one face thereof, wire partitions, each having a portion-entering a transverse groove and a plate secured to the grooved face of the back and. overlying said portions'of the partitions to hold them in place.

17. In post-office furniture the combination with .shelves,`of a back for each shelf,

each back having a longitudinal groove and a plurality oftransverse grooves in one face thereof, wire partitions secured to each back, each partition having two laterally extending portions to enter the horizontal groove and vertically extending portions to enter a transverse-groove, and a' plate secured to the grooved face of the back and overlying the portions of the partitions -which occupy the horizontal groove.

18. In post-office furniture, the combination with a frame, of swinging shelf-supporting members sustained thereby, shelves removably supported by said shelf-supporting members, and shelf backs independent from the shelves,v also supported by said shelf-supporting members.

19. In post-office furniture, the combination with a frame, of a pair of Suspenders pivotally connected at their upper ends to each side of the frame, shelf supports sustained by each pair of suspenders, shelves slidably mounted in said supports, and shelf backs independent from the shelves secured to said Suspenders.

20. In post-office furniture,`the combination with a table having a table top, of a frame situated above the table comprising two stationary uprights, a pair offswinging o (i Suspenders pivotally secured at their upper ends to each upright, shelf supports con- -necting each pair of Suspenders, and shelves slidably mounted on said supports, whereby the relative position of the various shelf supports may be changed by swinging the Suspenders.

21. In post-office furniture the combination with a table top extension having grooves on its upper face, of a follower slidable longitudinally of said grooves and provided with an extension having locking flanges that are received in said grooves,

and means to guide the follower in its sliding movement, the ends of said flanges having frictional engagement with the walls of the grooves when the follower is turned into an angular position thereby to lock the follower from movement.

22. In post-office furniture the combination with a table, of an extensible table top section having grooves in its upper face, a guiding strip sustained by said section between said grooves with the edges of said strip projecting partially over the grooves, a follower slidable on and guided by said guiding strip, said follower having an ex- -tension provided with locking flanges thatl are received in said grooves whereby when said follower is turned into an angular position said flanges will frictionally engage the grooves thereby to lock the follower from moving.

23. In post-office furniture the combination with a table having a top section rovided at one end with 'a fixed wall, o an extensible slide supportedv by said section and provided with an end rest which is spaced from the fixed wall and forms therewith a space to receive facedl and sorted mail, and hooks secured to the fixed wall and the end rest to support the ends of a tape laid on said top section. v

24. In post-office furniture, the combination witha table having a table top, of two parallel metal strips setyinto the upper surface of the table top and each provided with a plurality of apertures, and a plurality of partitions each having a body and a wire frame encircling the sides and top of the body, the ends of the wire .projecting below the body to form feet to enter said apertures.,

25. In vpost-oihce furniture the combina- Ition with a table having a tabletop, of an surface of the table top at each end thereof and each provided with a plurality of apertures and a plurality of partitions having feet to enter said apertures, the outer ends of said strips being bent upwardly to constitute stops for the swinging arms.

27. In post-oiice furniture the combination with a stand or a frame sustained thereby and comprising the bottom, sides and a top which projects beyondthe sides at each end, and an assorting case supported 'by said frame and having at each side a por tion'which overlies the projecting ends of the said top, and fastening means extending through said projecting ends into the'frame for detachably securing the parts together.`

28.4 In post-oilice furniture, thecombination with shelves, of backs for the shelves,

- each back having a plurality of grooves formed in its top and bottom edge, a plurality of wire partitions sustained by said back, each partition being bent to form upper and lower legs which occupy grooves in the top and bottom of the back, and means for securing said partitions to the back, the grooves holding the partition from lateral movement.

29. In post-office furniture, the comblnation with a frame, of shelvescremovably sustained thereby, a shelf back for each shelf, each back having at each end a metal holder, means for securing said `metal holders to the frame, and partitions sustained by the shelf backs, said shelves being movable relativer to the shelf backs. v

30. In post-office furniture, the lcombination with a frame, of shelves removably sustained thereby, av shelf back for each shelf,

each back having at each end thereof a metal holder, means forpivotally connect* 'ing each holder to the frame, and partitions sustained by the shelf backs.` a

31. In post-office furniture, the combina tion with a frame, of shelves removably sustalned thereby, a shelf back for each shelf also supported by the frame, each shelf back having at each end thereof a metal holder -provided with a trunnion about which the having at each end'thereof a metal holder provided with a trunnion about which the shelf back can turn, partitions for the shelves secured to the shelf backs, and means to limit the rocking movement of the shelf b acks thereby to hold the partitions in posit1on to permit a removed shelf to be inserted into place. Y

33. In post-oilice furniture, the combination with a frame, of shelves removably sustained thereby, a shelf backvfor each shelf, and means lnovably secured .to the frame for supporting the shelf backs in proper position.

- 34. In post-oiiice furniture, the combination with a frame, of shelves removably sustained thereby, a shelf back for each shelf, partitions for the shelves sustained by the shelf backs, 'and swinging members pivotally connected to the frame and by which the shelf backs yare held in their desired position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT T. BOURN. 

